Chapter 5 Medical Terminology

Abdominal Quadrants

Four divisions of the abdomen used to pinpoint the location of a pain or injury: the right upper quadrant (RUQ), the left upper quadrant (LUQ), the right lower quadrant (RLQ), and the left lower quadrant (LLQ).

Anatomic Position

The standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this position, the body is standing erect, facing the observer, with arms down at the sides and the palms of the hands forward.

Anatomy

The study of the body structure

Anterior

The front of the body or body part.

Bilateral

On both sides

Combining Form

A word root with an added vowel that can be joined with other words, roots, or suffixes to form a new word; for example, the combining form therm/o added to meter makes the new word thermometer.

Compound

A word formed from two or more whole words; for example, the compound smallpox formed from small and pox.

Distal

Farther away from the torso. See also proximal.

Dorsal

Referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot. A synonym for posterior.

Fowler Position

A sitting position

Inferior

Away from the head, usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head (e.g., the lips are inferior to the nose).

Lateral

To the side, away from the midline of the body.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Midaxillary Line

A line drawn vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle.

Midclavicular Line

The line through the center of each clavicle.

Midline

An imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.

Palmar

Referring to the palm of the hand.

Physiology

The study of body function.

Plane

A flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object.

Plantar

Referring to the sole of the foot.

Posterior

The back of the body or body part.

Prefix

Word part added to the beginning of a root or word to modify or qualify its meaning; for example, the prefix bi- added to the word lateral forms the word bilateral.

Prone

Lying facedown.

Proximal

Closer to the torso. See also distal.

Recovery Position

Lying on the side. Also called lateral recumbent position.

Root

Foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own—for example, the root cardi, meaning "heart," in words such as cardiac and cardiology.

Suffix

Word part added to the end of a root or word to complete its meaning; for example, the suffix -itis added to the root laryngforms the word laryngitis.

Superior

Toward the head (e.g., the chest is superior to the abdomen).

Supine

Lying on the back

Torso

The trunk of the body, or the body without the head and the extremities.

Unilateral

Limited to one side.

Ventral

Referring to the front of the body. A synonym for anterior.